Washing machine



Patented Mar. 22, 1927,

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. .1 WASHING MACHINE!" Application filed 1tpri12 1,192 -t. seriainafiaaeea.

' This invention .relates to washing machines of that type wherein the tub is mounts ed on"rockersr'and is' adapted to be moved back and forth upon a suitable supporting frame in order to set up the desired agitation of the contents of the tub.

In structures of this type 'as heretofore built it has been necessary to provide means more or less intricate for holding the tub against displacement upon its supports, this being particularly necessary in those ma-- chines which are motor driven and in which there should be no variation in the relation of the tubto its driving mechanism. .The means heretofore used, however, have not generally been satisfactory either because of their complicated constructions or because of interference with the desired rocking action of the-tub.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and efficient connection between the tub and its supports whereby the tub can rock freely but will always be held positively against movement either laterally ferred form "of the invention has beenshown.

In said drawings- I t Figure 1. is a side elevation of a portion of a washing machine embodying the present improvements, one of the positions to which the machine can be moved beingindicated by broken lines. 7

Fig. 2 is an enlarged'view of a portion thereof showing, in full and broken lines,

other positions to which the tub can be moved. I

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a portion of the tub and its supports.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designatesthe supporting rails on which are mounted rockers 2 secured to e the bottom of a tub 3.

,The structure constituting thepresent 1nvention comprises interfitting holdinginemhers locatedat the two sidesfo'f the tub. Each of these holding means includes a tongue 4 and a yoke 5. The tongue is mounted on the outer'sideof rail 1 and is secured thereto by means of screws 5 or the like. This tongue projects upwardly above the rail-and has its end rounded as shown at 6. The yoke 5 is attached to the outer side of rocker 2 and-tub 8 to" which it is held bymeans of screws 7 or the like. This yoke extends to the lower edge ofthe rocker and has a recess 8, the inlet .or mouth-of which is equal to the maximum width of tongue 4:.

This is clearly. shown in Fig. 1. Said inlet or mouth is slightly flared as shown at'9 and the wall of the recess 8 as wellas the wall'of the tongue 4 are so curved that when the tub 'is rocked to any position the opposed walls of the mouth or inlet 9 will en- "gage opposed walls or edges of the tongue 4. .This is clearly apparent by referring to Figs. 1 and 2 wherein the parts are shown in four-different positions. While the parts g are thus located or while the tub is in any other position to which it may be moved by rocking, it becomes impossible to slide the tub longitudinally along the rails 1. As the tongues lap the outer sides of the rock- .ers the tub is of course held against lateral displacement. In practice the tongues 4t and the yokes 5 are formed of maple or other hardwood which has been found ex-1 cellently adapted for the purposes. These ,parts are subjected to little if'any'wear because, during the normal rocking of the tub the points 9 merely travel'along lines parallel withthe opposededgesof the tongue a,

These meeting surfaces are subjected to little if any thrust one against the other but they act'efficiently at all times 'to' prevent the rockers from sliding along the supports 1. Obviously by using connections such as described-a, rocking tub can be used efficiently with power drive mechanism.

' What is claimed is 1. In a washing machine,'the combination with a supporting structure,rockers mounted thereon, and a tub carried by the rockers, of means for holding the tub against movement longitudinally of the supporting structure during the rocking operation, said meansincluding tonguesjconnecta ed to and upstandmg from said structure, and yekes fixedly connected to the rockers and straddling the tongues, the cooperating faces of the tongues and yokes being shaped to maintain opposed portions of each yoke in contact With opposed vportions of its tongue. at all times during the rocking of the tub.

2. In a Washing machine the combination with a supporting structure, rockers mounted thereon, and a tub carried by the rockers, of tongues secured to said structure and projecting upwardly therefrom, said tongues lapping the rockers to hold them against lateral displacement, and yokes fixedly connected to the rockers and straddling the respective tongues, the cooperating faces of each yoke and its tongue being so shaped that opposed portions of each yoke Will be maintained constantly in engagement with opposed portions of its tongue during the movement of the rockers to any position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

HOWARD F. minus. 

